Some farmers in Gombe State, whose farmlands were washed away by flood last year, have appealed for government’s assistance to enable them to cultivate their farmlands this season.
The farmers made the appeal, while speaking on their experiences in separate interviews in Gombe on Wednesday
They said that the impact of last year’s flooding on their farmlands made it “extremely difficult” for them to continue the vocation.
According to them, the farmers that have cultivated this season did so with bank facilities.
A rice farmer from Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area (LGA), Musa Garba, said the impact of the 2022 flooding on his farmland made it difficult for him to farm this season.
Garba said that over 70 per cent of his three hectares of rice farmland was swept away by the flood.
He said that because there was no support, he had to take a loan to enable him to cultivate a hectare this year.
“We really need support because most of the rice farmers affected by last year’s flood could not return to their farms and this will negatively affect food security in the state,” he said.
For Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, from Panguru Community in Billiri LGA, who cultivated over four hectares of soya beans last year but harvested less than two bags of the produce, there was no interest to go back to farm this year.
Ibrahim said that without support from government and other stakeholders, it would be difficult for many of them to return to their farms.
“We heard that soon the State Government would roll out the sales of subsidised fertilisers and inputs.
“It is important for government to consider flood affected farmers too.
“I am yet to recover from the impact of last year’s flood because the loan I took to cultivate had not been repaid so I can’t take another to farm this year,”
Adamu Bajoga from Funakaye LGA said farmers in his community, who were affected by flood last year, were now afraid to go back to their farms.
Mr Ibrahim Abubakar, the Head of Extension Officers, state chapter of the Maize Association of Nigeria Special Project, said the impact of the floods could not be quantified.
Abubakar said that if the victims were not supported by the government, it would be difficult for many of them to recover from the loss.
“I know nearly 30 farmers who were affected by flood last year that are not going back to their farms for the lack of funds.
“They really need help from the Federal and State Governments so that we don’t have food crisis on our hand,“ he said.
